Assistant Professor in Experimental Virology

Aarhus University; Aarhus; Remote; DKK 493,000 - 585,000; Full time

Job summary

Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark, invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Experimental Virology in the Department of Biomedicine. This fixed-term, full-time 18‑month position emphasizes research and teaching at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, with supervision of junior researchers in a diverse, international environment.

Ideal candidates will focus on virus-host interactions and innate immunity, publish in international journals, and engage in collaborative projects including

Qualifications

• PhD in virology or closely related field with independent research record.
• Experience with virus-host interactions and innate immune responses.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and molecular assays.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience supervising students/research staff and collaborating internationally.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent, high-quality research on virus-host interactions and innate sensing.
• Develop cellular and cancer-associated models to study infection and immune responses.
• Collaborate on projects in oncolytic virotherapy and antiviral immunity.
• Teach, supervise Bachelor’s/Master’s students and support junior researchers; contribute to grant applications.

Skills

RNA-virus systems

Virus-host interactions

Immunology methods

Mammalian cell culture

Molecular assays

Peer-reviewed publications

Supervision/mentoring

Education

PhD in virology

PhD in immunology

PhD in biochemistry

PhD in molecular medicine

Tools

Viral culture techniques

RT-qPCR

Flow cytometry

Immunoblotting

Microscopy

Job description

Assistant Professor in Experimental Virology

The Department of Biomedicine at the Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Assistant Professor in the field of experimental virology as per 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 18 months.

The Department of Biomedicine prioritises diversity and a good work environment, as this is a prerequisite for groundbreaking research. In a diverse and international research environment, dedicated employees are looking to generate new knowledge within biomedical research areas such as infection and inflammation, membranes, neuroscience and personalised medicine. The Department of Biomedicine provides research-based teaching of the highest quality and is responsible for a large part of the medical degree programme. Academic staff contribute to the teaching. English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars. The department employs approx. 500 people from all over the world, and they make use of the department's modern laboratory-, core- and animal facilities. The Department of Biomedicine focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration with business and industry, and numerous researchers from the department have established companies to develop new medicinal treatments founded in professional scientific basic research. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here .

Your job responsibilities

As Assistant Professor in Experimental Virology, your primary tasks will be research and research-based teaching. You will teach and supervise students at Bachelor’s and Master’s level, and you will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with both Danish and international colleagues. The position of Assistant Professor is a career development position in which you will receive supervision and pedagogical upgrading.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality on virus-host interactions, innate immune sensing and inflammasome signalling during RNA-virus infection, including publication of the results.
• Establishment and characterisation of relevant cellular and cancer-associated experimental models to study how innate sensing pathways influence viral replication, cell death and oncolytic-virus responses.
• Contribution to related collaborative projects in oncolytic virotherapy and antiviral innate immunity, including projects involving complementary RNA- and DNA-virus systems.
• Teaching, guidance and examination of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, contribution to day-to-day supervision of junior researchers, and some degree of contribution towards attracting external research funding.

You will report to the Head of Department, Professor Thomas G. Jensen.

Your competences

You have a PhD in virology, immunology, biochemistry, molecular medicine or a closely related field and independent research qualifications at a high international level. Your research profile should combine experimental virology with immunology and should demonstrate substantial hands‑on experience studying host responses to virus infection.
For this position, particular emphasis will be placed on documented experience with:

• Multiple RNA-virus systems and comparative virus-host studies; experience with VSV or another experimentally tractable negative‑strand RNA virus is highly relevant.
• Mechanisms connecting viral infection with inflammatory signalling, type-I interferon responses, cell death, cellular metabolism, mitochondrial function and/or reactive oxygen species.
• Mammalian cell culture and quantitative virology approaches, supported by relevant molecular and cellular methods such as infection assays, immunoblotting, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry and microscopy.
• Scientific publication in peer-reviewed international journals, including evidence of substantial intellectual contribution such as first- or co-first authorship.
• Research collaboration in an international environment and supervision or mentoring of university students or junior researchers.

Experience with oncolytic virotherapy, cancer-relevant infection models, or translation of fundamental virus-host biology towards therapeutic virology will be considered an advantage. You are a clear communicator and have some experience of supervision and teaching at Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree level. Completed pedagogical training and experience with external research collaborations will be viewed positively.
As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented, and are able to contribute to a good work environment. We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English. International applicants are expected to learn Danish, and Aarhus University arranges Danish teaching.
In order to be assessed as qualified for an Assistant Professor position, you must meet the academic criteria applicable at Aarhus University.

Shortlisting will be used.

To be considered for the position, applicants must meet the formal requirements for academic appointments at Aarhus University and submit all required application materials by the deadline. Applications that are substantially incomplete will not proceed to further assessment.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor David Olagnier, email: [e-mail].

Your place of work will be the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Bartholin Building, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as an assistant professor requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime assistant professor is between DKK 493.2394,35 and DKK 585.322,48 depending on the years of working experience after achieved MSc degree. The base salary includes a position related supplement and pension (18.07 %).Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. Authorisation supplement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.

Your application must include the following:

• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted (optional)
• Research plan, which is part of the 'Template to applicant - assistant professor or tenure track assistant professor'can be uploaded separately(optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded(optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system(optional)

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants .
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services here . Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Association and offers career development support. You can read more about these resources here .

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Administrationscenter Health - Health HR [phone] [e-mail]